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"Cckmacbus" 

A MODERN MIRACLE-PLAY 

IN 

TWO PARTS. 



JOHN D. McCarthy, s. j 




COPYRIGHT. 1910, BY 

The College of St. Francis Xavier 

NEW YORK 



east of gbaracters 

PART 1. 

Theodosius. the Emperor 

Archbishop AiMr.Ko.si-: 

Telemachus 

ruffinus 

Glabrio 

Stilicho 

Paitj.us 

Priests, Soldiers, Citizens. 



PART IT. 



honoriu.s . . 
Prudentius . 
Telemachus 
Glabrio . . . 
Marcus . . . 
Titus 

LiCINlUS . . . 

Caius 

Carbilio . , , 

TiGELLINUS . 

Abrogastes . 

BOTO 

Galatus . . . 

Stephanus . 



Officers, Soldiers, Gladiators. Citizens. 

Synopsis of Scenes 

PART 1. 

A .Street in front of the Basilica of Milan. 

PART. II. 

A'c^j. 

Scene I. Outside a wiiTe shop in Rome. 

.Scene IT. A mountain in Asia. 

Act it. 
Scene 1. The Appian Way, Rome. 
Scene 11. The Gladiators' quarters in the Coliseum. 



i^.'D 2220B 



Telemachus. 

A Modern Miracle-Play in Two Parts. 

PART I. 

Act I. 

Scene I. 

.-/ street ill Milan. At lo'icer left, a eluirch witli 
practical doors. IT hen the curtain rises, the stage is 
crozvded zcith people moving about and talking. At 
intervals other citi.':;cns cross the stage; sotne are en- 
tering, others coming out of cJiurch. At C, Glabrio 
and Old Man. 

RicHT 1st C. — They were all freed yesterday. 

Left 1st C. — i'>ut I heard that Theodosius sent a sec- 
ond order. 

Right 2d C. — Yes ; I saw them on the streets. 

Left 2d C. — What, countermanding the first? 

Right 3d C. — Poor fellows! I wonder will they come 
here? 

Left 3d C. — Yes. but it did not arrive in time. 

Glabrio (C). — What, grandfather, art thou only a 
stranger in Milan, and hast not known the things that 
have been done here in these days ? 

Old Man. — I leave the house only to come to Mass. 
I hear no news. 

Rk^ht 1st C. — One of them, by name Telemachus. 
was ver_\- s])irite(l in his reply to Theodosius. 



Left 3d C. — Their punishment was too severe ! 

Old Man. — But I saw the streets were thronged. 

Right 2d C. — So I heard. 

Old Man. — I wondered why, for 

Right 3d C. — Oh, but he was greatly wronged ! 

Old Man. — They all seemed coming to the church. 

Glabrio. — Right you are. Grandfather 

Left 3d C. — A veritable slaughter. 

Gl.\brio. — Right you are ! Ah. I would not miss it 
for a jug of the best Tuscan vintage. 

Old Man. — But tell me, I pray 

Glabrio. — Oh, I never had the habit of keeping si- 
lence, for 

Right 1st C. — I hear, moreover, that this young 
Tel 

Left 3d C. — Theodosius should never have done so 
without 

Right L". 1st C. — I heard differently. 

Right U. 2d C. — And I tell you, man, that Archbishop 
Ambrose is to say the Mass. 

Glabrio. — Oh ! Keep quiet ! You woodcocks, you dis- 
turb my flow of thought. (All the cifirjois look at Gla- 
brio, laugh and continue talking, but in a lozv tone) — ■ 
for, as philosophers say, a cat should be a hunter, but a 
man a talker. However, since I was ahvays too ab- 
stemious in eating and drinking, I have short breath now. 
Still, as T have already received the crown of martyrdom, 
it would ill become me to refuse this act of charity. 
Therefore attend! I shall begin ab. ovo: 

liotheric, the Roman Governor of Thessalonica, im- 
prisoned a favorite charioteer of the people. They rose 
in rebellion, surprised the garrison and slew Botheric 
and several of the soldiers. The emperor, Theodosius, 
ordered the Barbarian regiment in Blyria to put the of- 
fenders to the sword, — and they did it in true barbaric 
fashion, slaughtering between fifteen and twenty thou- 



s;in'!, iniiDCcnt and <;uilt\', men, women and children, be- 
sides bringing- to Milan a numerous captive train. Theo- 
(losius, re])enting- bis haste and severit\-. freed tlie ca]i- 
tives, and is coming to the church to seek ])ard()n for his 
crime. Archbishop Ambrose, who is horrified at the 
massacre, is expected to say — well — ah ! — a few words 
which, while they mav not be extremely ilattering', will, 
you may be sure, be very much to the point. Ergo, the 
crowd! There you have it all. Cirandfather, in a nut- 
shell. Tacitus himself could not have done it better. 

Old Max. — That is indeed sad, very sad ! Many of the 
|)eo]ile of Thessalonica were good Christians — good 
Christians, that 1 know. 1 am not sur])rised to hear that 
tlie Archbishop is oiTfended. It is very sad — verv sad! 
l!ut whom have 1 to thank for this narrative? 

(ir.Ai'.Kio. — Julius r.ucius (dabrio! Christian! Horn at 
Milan, anno Domini 348. Baptized at fifteen. Enlisted 
under Theodosius v372 — first campaign, Africa. I'lains of 
( letulia, against that son of a pagan, Eirmus the Moor ! 
Last fight, against Maximus, at Aquileia. See that eye? 
Martyred for the faith hx the Arians of Constantinople 
in 78. 

Li'M'T 1st C. — Look! Here comes another. {C'r(>sscs to 
Riiilit Upper. ) 

Left Id C. — Yes, I think that is }oung Telemachus ! 
Glabrio ! 

Glabrio. — Tell you all about it some other time. 
Grandfather ; I think 

Right Upper 2d C. — Glabrio ! 

(jLAP>ri(X — Well, what's the trouble now? — the Em- 
peror coming? (Crosses up.) 

Right Copper 1st C. — No! One of the captives! Te- 
lemachus I think they call him. 

Right Upper 2d C. — He seems not to rejoice much in 
his freedom. 

Glabrio. — No ! A man of sorrow's ! Stand aside, vou 



good-for-nothings ! I shall accost him for I have a most 
sweet voice to soothe and gentle manners to console. 

{ liuicr Tclcimtclius. Ri^lit Uf>/^cr.) 

God ])e with you, stranger! 

Tklemachus. — Thank you. {Bail's to Glabrio. then 
crosses to Left Lower.) 

(Il.mjrk). — Come, come, my son! lie cheerful! Let 
not melancholy devour you! 'Tis dangerous, for when 
it leaves the liver, its prtjper seat, it strikes the head, 
and ma\' soon come to destroy a man's reason. 

Telemachus. — Thank you ! 

Glabrio. — Resides, "tis flying in the face of Provi- 
dence to he sad — so young and lusty — just set free by 
our most Christian Emperor, with 

Ti:!J-;.\rACHUS. — Our most Christian Emperor? [Sar- 
casticaUy.) 

(iLAr.RTo. — Yes, our most Christian Emperor. ( )nc 
would think the words left a bad taste in vour month. 

Tin.K.M.vcHUS. — And so thfy do! ^lost Christian Em- 
peror ! Rah ! 

(iL.vBRio. — Are you nut a Christian? 

Telemachus. — Am I a Christian? I must ask myself. 
1 was a Christian, hoped to die a Christian, but now I 
am a man, alas! whose 

(h.AP.Rio. — I know your trouble and I know its cure! 
^'ou need some wine — some good old Tuscan wire! If 
\()U were a Hun or a (ioth, it would be diiTerent, for such 
blood when mixed with wine boils : and transforms the 
man into a sort of devil ; if Jewish or Roetian, being tor- 
pid and heavy, it will sink: onlv with the blood of a 
Roman does it becomes livel\- and form excellent lif|Uor, 
which gives hope and faith, manhood and daring to the 
body. Therefore, keep an eye on me, and just as so(in as 
the Archbishop's reception of Theodosins 



Tklkmachlts — The Archl)isliop's reception of Theo- 
dosius ! 

Glabrio. — Ves ! Do you suppose that I would be stand- 
inj^- al)out here with a throat as dry as a hme-kihi 

Tele.macuus. — Do you mean to say that Arclihisho], 
Ambrose is to receive the Emperor? 

Glabrio. — Theodosius. repenting- of his severity to- 
wards you and }our people, is coming- to venerate the 
relics of the martyrs and to seek pardon for 

Tklkmaciius. — ( )h, the shame, the shame, the hy- 
])ocrisy of it all! A Christian lunperor, without observ- 
ing even the mockery of a judicial inquiry as to who were 
the guiltx parties — who decoys with a lie a Christian 
people into the Amphitheater under the i)retense of hold- 
ing games, and then. — oh ! kiss (^f Judas — then to turn 
loose upon us a horde of Barbarian devils, whose undis- 
tinguishing and unpitying sword never faltered till the 
ver}' heavens steamed with the blood of thousands, is 
coming to venerate the relics of the ]\Iartyrs ! Just think 
of it! Ilerod, wh(\ to make sure of killing Christ, slew 
some forty or fifty infants, is held up by the Church as 
the type of all that is anti-Christian in a king! But this 
man, — this Christian I{m])eror, — this TTerod with a <levil ! 
— who, to ])unish some few fanatics, massacres nearly 
twent\- thousand of his subjects, is to he received b\- the 
Arclibisho]) when he comes to venerate the relics of tlic 
Alartvrs! ( )h. mockery of all that I held to be sacred — 
a damnable mockery ! I had some doubts till now I But 
now the last threads that bound me have been snapped! 
There is no Christ ! There is no Church ! There is no 
religion ! Nought but mockery and hy])ocrisy — because 
there is no Christian justice, no Christian charity, no 
Christian piety, no Christian fortitude! Xought but 
mockery and hypocrisy ! 

All Cits. — Fear God. man! Fear God! 

Glabrio. — Woa. woa ! But he is hot! .*^ee here, mv 



son! Thoui^h you lia\-e caui^lit the (Ie\il l)v the tail. I 
fear that he has you l)y the head, and has j^iven it a twist, 
for yon conchide liadly. You forget tliat there are reeep- 
lions and receptions. AnilM'ose gave me one, and if Theo- 
dosius gets the same, he'll not perspire much in running 
for a second I You've overlooked the manner 

Telemachus. — I've not overlooked anything! I un- 
derstand it all. This reception is hut another mockery — 
all arranged for the edification of such fools as I was, 
and as these people still are! I know the nature of this 
reception ! 

Glaisrio. — Well. 1 don't! I'.ut 1 know Amhrose ! 
Therefore 1 stay here — though mv tongue is as withered 
as a sun-dried plum — for, heing born of woman, I have, 
as a conse(|uence, a craving of curiositv as to this recep- 
tion, which, for the moment, dominates the more manly 
appetite inherited from my father. 

Telemachus. — If some poor man, in a moment of pas- 
sion, had committed murder, he would stand in ])eniten- 
tial garb for two years outside the door of xonder 
church, begging prayers of the faithful. lUit this man is 
hjiiperor — our most Christian Emperor! — therefore Am- 
brose will not even dare to hint 

CiTizi:\s. — Hold up! Hold up! Don't use that phrase! 
You know notliing of our Archbishop! 

Is'i' liT. — Ambrose not dare! Why, man, 'twas just on 
account of his daring that he was made Governor of 
these provinces during the Arian troubles ! 

2n CiT. — 'Twas just ()n account of his daring that the 
peoijle chose him for Archbishop when he was merely 
a catechumen ! 

Gi-Ahrio. — Ambrose not dare! See that e\ e ? He 
dared to tell me. Julius Lucius Glabrio, that I never did 
receive the crown of martyrdom, hut that I lost that eve 
in a drunken broil! .\mbrose not dare? He'd dare the 
devil ! 



Trlkmaciuts. — Then let Iiini dare be just! Will Am- 
brose, think y(Hi, dare refuse him absolution until his pen- 
itential deeds i^ixe ])r(i()f of his eontrition? Will Am- 
brose, standing at llie door of that ehnreh, in the name 
of that Christ, Who never spoke a harsh word except to 
I'harisaical hy])ocrites, dare to tell this Roman Emperor 
that, [{mperor though he be, he can never set foot within 
the Church until he gives to the scandalized children of 
Christ better evidence than the word of a murderer of 
his repentance? Will Archbishop Ambrose dare do that? 

(ir.AiiRio. — ( )h. no! I know that daring! . . . ()h, no! 
^'our true daring has judgment and discretion. Am- 
brose will l)ring him up roundly — roundly — my son. but 
with judgment and discretion. 

Ti:i.i:.M.\(iiL's. — With judgment and discretion! Cireat 
discretion ! 

(ihABKio. — What, turn the Emperor from the door of 
the church, as if he were the pest or the jjlag'ue ! Oh. 
no! r)esides, was not the church founded for sinners? 

Ti-:lem.\chus. — For imperial siiuiers, especiallv. 

(iLABRio. — Then, ag'ain. he might turn Arian ! 

TKLK.xr.vcriu.s. — And Ambrose lose the roval stipend. 

(ii.AiiKio. — ( )r he might apostatize — become another 
Julian! Xow as ! have received one crown of martyr- 
dom, I'm not at all anxious for another. 

Tei^emachus. — C)h, have no fear! There'll be no per- 
secution! .Ambrose will use judgment and discretion! 
T/e'll admit his Imperial Majesty to the church. Afass 
f)eing- said, he will rise in his Archiepiscopal dignity, and 
to the edification of the simple, he will speak with ani- 
mation of the heinousness of crime — but in the abstract, 
.n the abstract! It would not show judgment or discre- 
tion to descend to the concrete! Oh, what an insult to all 
that 1 thought to be Christlike ! A royal hypocrite and a 
mitred sycophant ! Come, give over shams I Eet us be 
honest pagans ! Xo priest ever called Tiberius, Nero, 



8 

Calii^ula or Doniitian to account for their misdeeds. Let 
our priests show like patience with imperial sinners! The 
temples of the gods were never closed to them while they 
were alive: and in the Pantheon, at their death, a jilace 
among- the gods was assigned to them. Let us show like 
reverence to Theodosins. who seems, in very truth, to 
have become a god, for he has undisputed and unchecked 
dominion over life and death! ( I'urning to the people) 
Come, Christian people, toss up your caps with glad huz- 
zas, for our most Christian Emperor Theodosius has be- 
come a god ! 

(Starts oz'cr towards the ehiireh.) 

(iLABRio. — Stick \our head in a bucket of water! 

XuMBEK OF Cits. — He blasphemes! He blasphemes! 

Others. — Stone him! Stone him! 

Others. — Take him to Ambrose! Take him to Am- 
brose ! 

Tele.m.\chus. — ( )ut of ni}- way! ( )ut of my way! 

( )thers. — Stone him ! Stone him ! 

Glabrio. — Back, you fools, back! The boy is crazed 
with grief ! 

(Cits, fall hack ta/kim:^. d'hibrio cciiies dai^'ii sta^:^e. 
Tehvnaehiis crosses otcv and sits on steps of church.) 

Glabrio. — I did not tell him that Ambrose and Theo- 
dosius were fast friends, and yet I fear that friendship ! 

Telemachus. — Oh, my martyred luother ! Wdiere are 
those beautiful ideals of Christian virtue, which, from my 
tender years, thy love i)laced. day by day, within the 
temple of m\' soul? ( ione ! ( ione ! Gone! 

(A bit^i^le blast is heard off Rii:.ht.) 



Kicii'i" I'l'PiiR Cits. — The Emperor! the I'jiiperor is 
coming- 1 { .Iniiiiatcd action of Cits.) 

(h.Ar.Kio. — 1 hope Ambrose does not feel his conra.ye 
oozing ont as fast as I do my confidence! 

SoLiUF.RS. — Make way for tlie lMn])eror ! .Make \va\- 
there ! 

{Soldiers enter Rii^ht Uf^pcr. The Cits, fall back to 
Left Upper.) 

Ti;i.i:.M.\eiirs. ^'es, make way for onr most Christian 
I'jnperor! {Muz'cs to Left Upper.) Christianity's bur- 
lesqne of Paganism begins ! 

( Theodosius enters throuy^h his soldiers, ,i,'(U\s" strais^ht 
to the church. Js his foot touches the first step, the d 
suddenlv opens and .Inihrose in Cope and Mitre, carry 
///,i,' his Crccier, appears: se:'eral Priests, etc.. acc( 
pany him. With a i^esture of learniiii:; he says) : 



oor 



cconi- 



A.Mi'.KosK. — Stop, Emperor ! 

( Theodosius. surprised, falls back to center of staii^e. 
his soldiers aloui:^ the r/i^///. Back of him are Stilicho and 
Rufinus. Se-i'cral of the cleri:;y appear and ran^^e thcm- 
sel'i'cs about Andvose.) 

( Hoth soldiers and people slone surprise and e.vpecta- 
tion. ) 

Ambrose. — ^'ou know that 1 cherish the memory of 
ohl friendsliin, and of the l^enefits I have received from 
\()U. 1 was, therefore, naturally inclined to hold my 
tongue, and to leave you to the promptings of your own 
l)iet\- to efface this sin from the memory of your reign, 
r.nt now, that yon have dared to c:ome hither. I can no 



10 

longer keep silent, for to hold my tongue would be to 
put a chain upon my conscience. 

What has been done in Thessahjnica has no ])arallel 
within human memory! Yet even now, that your anger 
is appeased, your reason does not seem to have measured 
the extent of your crime. No doubt your great power 
blinds you. Your reason is darkened by your being free 
to do as you please. But remember, that human nature, 
\-ours as well as other men's, is frail and mortal; and 
that all must return to the dust whence we came. Let 
not, therefore, the glory of the purple you are clad in 
deceive you as to the infirmity of the body it covers. The 
men }ou rule are of the same nature as you. You and 
the\- are subject to the same power. For us all there is 
but one Emperor, He, Who is the Creator of all things! 

With what eyes can you look upon the temple of our 
common Master? With what steps will you dare to 
tread the flood of His sanctuary? How will you dare to 
lift to Him your blood-stained hands? How can such 
hands touch the sacred body of Christ? How will you 
carry His blood to those lips, by whose angry words has 
been shed the blood of so many of the innocent? I dare 
not ofifer the Holv Sacrifice if you are present! I would 
not do it if the blood of only one innocent person had been 
shed ! How can I do it now, when so many have been 
slaughtered? Retire, august Emperor, lest entering you 
add yet another sin to those you have already committed. 

TiiKonosius. — My Lord Bishop. I think you are un- 
necessarily severe! David, the man after (jod's own 
heart, committed not only murder, but adultery, and 
yet 

Ambrose. — Since you have imitated David in his crime, 
imitate him also in his repentance ! 

RuFiNUS. — This is outrageous and must be stopped! 

Ambrose. — Why should you be ashamed, oh. Emperor? 
David was the author of that line from which our Saviour 



11 

sprani;'. vet he did not hesitate to Immhle himself and 
sav : "I have sinned l)efore the Lord!" 

RuFiNUS. — Lord I5isliop, this hnniihatioii of the Em- 
])eror has "one far cnoiii^h ! 

Ambrose (not rci:;arciiii!j; Ritfiiiits at all). — 1 have no 
cause, Emperor, as you know, to be angry with you, but 
great cause for fear ! Accept the bond the Sovereign 
Lord imposes on you ! 

Telemachus. — And I called that man a sycophant! 

RuFiNUS. — Lord Bishop, the Emperor would enter! Lf 
you have scruples 

Ambrose. — What brings you here, Rufinus? What is 
your shameless purpose ? Are you not one of those who 
counselled the massacre? 

Rufinus. — The Emperor must enter! Stand aside! 

Ambrose. — Lll not stand aside! 

Rufinus. — I tell you. Priest, you shall repent this 
folly ! 

Ambrose. — Xot for eternity ! 

(Rufinus consults -a'itli StilicJio and officers.) . ^^ 

(An animated consultation is .(.'"on;,^" on among the (^co- 
pic) 

A Priest. — jMv Lord, there are already in the city too 
many Arians ! Why 

Ambrose. — Art not ashamed ! 

Priest. — Forgive me, my Lord, but I thought that dis- 
cretion 

Ambrose. — Discretion never sacrificed a truth ! 

Rufinus. — Come, my Lord ; we'll find a priest to say 
the Mass, so please retire. 

( The Citi::ens in jj^reat anxiety sho7'e forward one of 
their number, and all drop on their knees extendiiiir their 
hands toxcards Ambrose.) 



12 

Citizen. — I entreat you, my Lord Bishop, in the name 

of the people, who all fear another persecution 

Ambrose. — Go, and be the first to die! 

i E.vciaiiiatiois from Citizens as they rise.) 

RuFiNUS. — In the name of Chief Minister of the Em- 
pire, I bid you stand aside! 

Stilicho. — In the name of General, backed by these 
soldiers, I warn you stand aside ! 

People. — Oh, yield, my Lord! Yield! Yield! 

Telemachus {Rushing out from the people). — In the 
name of Christ, Who spurned all hypocites, stand. Lord 
Iiishop. stand your ground ! 

(Riifiniis and Stilicho ciraz'.' their szcords and come 
doicii ill front of soldiers. Telemachus runs up the 
church steps to Ambrose.) 

People. — Shame, shame! Oh, fly. Lord Bishop! Fly! 
Telemachus. — We'll die together! 

( Si)ldiers dra:^' swords. ) 

RuFiNUs. — Once more. Lord Bishop, stand aside! 

Ami5RO.se. — Stand aside? If an angel were to come 
from heaven and bid me stand aside I would anathema- 
tize him! I will not stand aside! 

Soldiers. — Out of the way! Out of the way! 

{Led by Rufinus the soldiers start ton.<ard Ambrose. 
The people crowd together at Upper Left as if trying to 
run azcay but can not on account of the mob.) 

People. — Shame ! Shame ! Flv, Ambrose, flv ! Shame ! 
Fly! 



13 

( Theodositts sf^riiii^^s forward and stof^s Ru/iiius and 
the soldiers z^'itJi a i^csfiirc, ,s-(7vn/A') '■ 

Tiii-:i)()sius. — Hold! I submit! 

( Tclcmaclius falls at flic feet of Ambrose. The people 
spread out ai^ain alotii^ Upper Left and Center, zvavino- 
their arms and shoittim:;. The soldiers fall back to Lower 
Rii^ht a'//// exclamations of dis:^itst. ) 

People {after sliglit pause). — Huzza! Huzza I A 
miracle! A miracle! Huzza! 

RuFiNUS (to Stiliclio). — Who would have thought it? 

Stilicho. — Ridiculous ! Ridiculous ! 

Theodosius. — I entreat you, in the name of mercy and 
of our Common Lord, not to shut against me that door 
which is open to every sinner who repents. 

Ambrose. — What are the signs of your repentance? 

Theodosius. — It is your duty to point them out — 
mine to accept them. 

Ambrose. — God has ever blessed you. Emperor, yet 
for that word I'm sure He'll doubly bless you. Yet you 
ma\ not enter now ! Nor can I, amid all this passion and 
excitement, decide your penance. Let us, therefore, in 
])eace and in all thanksgiving retire. To-morrow, please 
(jod, you shall hear from me. 

Theodosius. — As you say, my Lord. (To his follozv^ 
ers ) : To the palace ! 

(.Imbrosc motiojis to the people, who zvithdraw. He 
hands his Crazier to one of the priests as they pass into 
the church. The soldiers i^o out, Rii^ht Upper, then offi- 
cers and Stilicho. Rntinus and Theodosius last.) 

RuFiNus. — Well, my Lord, — your — ha! ha! — con- 
duct was — ha ! ha ! — rather surprising — ha ! ha ! — to say 
the least. 



14 

Theodosius. — Oh. yon laugh. Ruhnus, but I could not 
forg-et that the Lord has said: "Whatsoever thou shalt 
bind upon earth shall be bound also in heaven !" 

(Exeunt.) 

Ambrose. — Stand up, my son ! Ah, you are one of the 
captives ! 

Telemachus. — Yes. my Lord. 

Ambrose. — You are a brave boy. my son, very brave! 
And I thank you for your encourag^ement, though I do 
not think I should have failed ! 

Telemachus. — I know, my Lord : I know now you 
never would have failed. 

Ambrose. — Yet why did you act so! Twas useless! 

Telemachus. — Not useless, my Lord, I hope not use- 
less ! I had denied Christ, and I — I 

Ambrose. — And }ou thought thus to prove your re- 
born faith? 

Telemachus. — Yes, my Lord. Besides I hoped to 
help you, for I thought — I did not think you would be so 
brave, and I called you 

Ambrose. — Ha! ha! I understand, my son; T under- 
stand it all. You denied Christ because you thoug-ht 
Christianity a farce since those who should be the ex- 
emplars of all Christian virtues seemed destitute of all ; 
and you upbraided me, thinking that I should com- 
promise, should wink at royal folly. Is't not so? 

Telemachus. — Yes, my Lord. 

Ambrose. — Well, I forgive you ! and I think, more- 
over, that your heroic act of faith has gained you Christ's 
forgiveness. Come, come into the church and help me 
to unvest. 

(At the z^'ord "forgive" Teleniaehiis starts azi'av from 
Ambrose.) 



15 

TKLiiMACHUs. — No, iio, iiiv L(jr(l ; I catiiiot ! 

A.MiiROSE. — You cannot ? 

Telemachus. — I cannot, for I will not play the hypo- 
crite ! In the excitement of the moment, with your brav- 
ery before me, I forgot, but I have not forgiven, and 1 
doubt if ever I can forgive, those who have so injured 
me. Therefore I cannot enter. 

Ambrose. — I see tliat 1 must lead two proud souls, in- 
stead of one, to (iod. Come, my son. You have be- 
wailed the lack of Christian charity in others — where is 
your ])ractice of it? 

Telemachus. — Urge me not, dear Bishop ! I cannot ! 
'T won Id force me to deny my manhood ! 

Ambrose. — Not thy Christian manhood! Never! Oh, 
not thy Christian manhood ! 

Telemachus. — T cannot argue, l^)ishop ! I can only 
feel ! Forgive them ? I cannot ! I will not ! Lord 
P.isho]), I will not! In every passing moment I seem 
to live again that day, so bright with hopes at dawning, 
so dark with sorrow and despair at evening. 

( Music and chanfiiii:; heard inside cJuivch.) 

Al\- father was Centurion in the Roman army and died 
fighting for this same Theodosius in his last war against 
Maximus. I, with my mother and one sister of about 
three years of age, lived in a modest, happy home in the 
Illyrian hills outside of Thessalonica. 

That morning, gay in holiday attire, we set out, in 
company with some friends of ours, to see the games. xA 
light-hearted, merry little band, we reached the city 
where we heard investigations were in progress as to 
the late rebellion which resulted in the death of Rotheric 
and his officers. As it had been the work of a few dis- 
contented, evil men, the people felt no uneasiness, though 



16 

the\- saw the numerous barbarian soldiers, sullen and 
silent in the streets. 

You've seen the amphitheater, my Lord, before the 
t;ames. The great white circle of untrodden sand ; the 
ilags and banners flying in the morning breeze; the gayly 
colored Valeria over the official stalls; the long" tiers of 
hard, uncomfortable seats of polished stone, throng'ed 
since earl\- morning with patient country folk, as eager 
for the gossip of the town as for the games.- You've seen 
the hearty recognition of old men wdio had not met be- 
fore in \ears, and heard the contented, earnest chatting 
of their wives. You've heard the merry banter of young 
men and maidens, and seen the e\es that s])arkled in the 
anticipated ]:)leasures of the tirst games in the circus. From 
one quarter came the shrill laughter of a girl ; from 
another, the call of a huckster, selling figs. Yonder a 
child was crying. There a scarf was waved to greet a 
distant friend. Down by the gates — pushing, laughter, ex- 
postulations. Everywhere, excitement and merriment! 
h\or in that vast assemblage there was not a fear, not 
even in the guilty, for they w^ere firm in Roman, if not in 
Christian, faith and justice. Xot a suspicion of the awful 
tragedy to follow clouded the pleasures of the moment. 
Joy was unconfined. 

(Music still fain fly heard.) 

I liad noticed that there were very manv soldiers, scat- 
tered in groups throughout the crowd, and in the aisles 
back of the topmost tiers, they stood, ranked in close 
file, but I thought nothing of it at the time. Suddenly 
the great door at the end of the arena was thrown open, 
and a barbarian regiment in full armor marched out upon 
the sand. Their strange features and peculiar dress, 
their nervous, energetic march, their odd manoeuvres, 
simple but perfect in execution, attracted all eyes and ex- 



17 

cited much comnienl. Soon they were well within the 
center of the arena, when, from reg-iilar marchin,^ order, 
they stood, of a sudden, with drawn bows in a sort of hol- 
low square. The astonishingly quick and perfect exe- 
cution of the movement brought ft)rth instant, heart\" 
applause, which had but scarcely begun when, at a trimi- 
pet's blast, the soldiers raised the shout: "Vnv liotheric! 
I*"or P.otheric !' and let Hy a shower of arrows at the as- 
tounded still applauding" crowds. 

Have you ever been startled, my Lord, suddenly 
frightened? Can you recall how all your faculties were, 
just for an instant, paralyzed — with a half-drawn breath 
stifled on the lips, and then a great collapse of quivering 
muscles and throbbing veins? Well, my Lord, that great 
mass of human beings — that over twenty thousand men, 
women and children, seemed, for one brief terrible sec- 
ond, transformed, as it were, into one huge, gigantic ani- 
mal, acting under the one, single, sudden impulse of as- 
tounding fear. The instant, simultaneous stifling of the 
breath made an appalling silence that could be heard and 
felt. Then, with another single impulse, it stirred, quiv- 
ered, heaved like a wave of the swollen sea, and rose up- 
ward with a roar that thundered in the dome of the sky. 
Groans, shrieks, prayers, despairing laughter, impreca- 
tions, curses were mingled with the soldiers' battle-cry : 
"I'"or Botheric ! For Rotheric !" Oh, God, that mo- 
ment's scene is burned upon my soul, but only the Re- 
cording Angel, in the language of heaven with imagery 
borrowed from hell, can describe it ! All the horrors of 
war of which I have heard or read were mercy to that 
new havoc. I saw a brutal soldier grasp a baby by its 
tender little foot, tear it from its mother's breast and 
fling it, with a shout, into the arena where another fury 
caught it on his spear ! An incessant storm of arrows 
flew from below. The soldiers in the rear — goaded on 
by devils — hewed, slashed and thrust without regard to 



18 

sex or age, respect of rank or sacredness of function. 
I looked to my mother. She bent above my sister who 
lay dead — a huge gash upon her temple. As I reached 
my arms to her an arrow pierced her throat — the blood 
spurting in my face as she fell upon my breast. What 
followed 1 know not. for, enveloped in a whirlwind of 
dead and dying that came tumbling down from the tiers 
above me, I was carried back, my mother in my arms, 
and striking my head, rolled unconscious between the 
seats, buried and protected by the dead. 

Ambrose. — My God, can such things be ! 

TF.r.E^rAcHUS. — I have little recollection of how I fell 
into captivity. For days I walked and talked as in a 
dream. Yet even now, sometimes, when half asleep, I 
seem to wake beneath a pile of dead, and crawling, wrig- 
gling over stifif, distorted lim])s, to burrow to the top. 
'Tis night. The moon is full, but half way down the sky. 
I sit down beside a corpse and laugh, and laugh. 

Ambrose. — Oh, my poor boy! 

Telemachus. — For out in the arena is a fire, and 
round it — in and out through the long, flickering shad- 
ows, is a crowd of drunken soldiers, rioting. 

Ambrose. — Oh, horrors ! 

Telemachus. — I seem to think it is the games, and T 
laugh right heartily at their antics. 1 wonder why all the 
applause are groans, or prayers, or cries for "Water ! 
Water!" I turn to question my companion. His face 
is in the shadow, but just then the moon emerges from a 
cloud, and the cold light falls upon the grinning features 
of a corpse with open, ghastly eyes. For an instant T 
seem to comprehend it all. and rise to shout in horror — 
but the shout turns into a laugh — and then — a blank. 

Ambrose. — Oh, how you have sufifered, my poor boy! 
How you have suffered ! 

TEEEMACHUS.--That circus is, for all I know, the one 
unthinkable tomb of all those slaughtered thousands. 



19 

And you ask nic to forgive the hands that built it? St. 
Taul. in his epistle to our ancestors, says: "\c are our 
glory and our joy!" Their descendants, by order of a 
Christian Emperor, were massacred in a most damnably 
barbaric fashion ! And you ask me to forgive the men 
who did it? Whose joy and glory are they now? Were 
1 lo ask the sun and say: "Tell me, () Sun, your eye 
has viewed that scene to-day, whose joy and glory are 
they now?"" 1 le"d answer: "Mine and the Vultures!" 
Sui)pose I ask the moon : "Tell me. O Moon, whose 
joy and glor_\ are they now?" 'Twould answer, my 
Lord: "The dogs! The dogs!" And you ask me to 
forgive ! Forgive ! Gootl God, Bishop, my mother and 
my sister 

Ambrose. — Oh, hush — hush ! For God's sake, hush, 
my boy ! You tempt me to side with you ! We can but 
])ra\- ! Xaught but the Almighty (irace of God can help 
us now ! Down on your knees ! 

"( )ur Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy 
name : Tin- kingdom come ; Thy will be done on earth as 
it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and 
forgive us our trespasses 

{Ambrose pcniscs. TeleinacJnts acts as if about to 
sf^cak, but docs not.) 

— and forgive us our trespasses (same action) 
— and forgive us our trespasses. {Pauses.) 

Telemachus. — As we forgive those {breaks dozen 

sobhin^^ and falls at the feet of Ambrose. A burst of tri- 
umpJml music heard from leitJiin church. "Te Deuin," 
or "Gh^ria." ) 

CURTAIN. 



20 
PART II. 

x\CT I. 

Scene 1. 

A o^ardcn outside a iciiie slu)[> in Rome. A table Lozver 

Left, -c^'ith t-ico chairs; another Loieer Rii:;ht. four chairs. 
At table Lo7cer Left, Titus and Licinins. 

Titus. — My advice, Licinins. is to take out a new com- 
mission under Stilicho. He is the greatest man in either 
East or West to-day — conqueror of the Gothic King, 
Alaric, at Polentia ; father-in-law of the Emperor, 
Honorius, who. in honor of that victory, is to give the 
most gorgeous games the people have seen in centuries. 
Have you seen the bill ? 

( Takes some tablets from his tunic and hands them to 
Liciiiiits.) 

LiciNius. — No! {Takes the tablets.) Hello! This is 
news ! Gladiatorial combats ? Is not that rather a — a 
serious amusement for Christian Rome? 

Titus. — Well, yes, somewhat. But come, see for your- 
self! We start to-night. 

LiciNius. — Why, Titus, I have just set foot in Rome. 
After so many years of work in Africa, I crave a few 
pleasures. 

Titus. — I promise you pleasure enough ! Come, at 
least as far as Constantinople. State affairs may lan- 
guish there ; enjoyment never. 

LiciNius. — You start to-night? 



21 

Titus. — Yes. overland to liniiidisium. where 1 lono- 
rius has ])lace(l a s])leii(h(l i^ahex' at mir (hsjjosah 

LiciNius. — Ha — hill ! 

Titus. — ^'ou had better eoiiie. \\'e have a jolly set. 
Von nuist remember Carpilio 

LiciNius. — What, Marcus Aetius? Oh, yes! I passed 
him and Cains down by the Capitol. Evidently out for 
sjxirt, they were arm in arm with some hui^e "hill of 
rtesh," who seemed the jolliest of the party. 

Titus. — Ha! ha! ( )ld (ilabrio! Xot only the jolliest of 
the ]:)arty, but in all Rome. They're trying- to induce him 
to join us. Xo, \on don't know him. I ran across him 
in Milan. He was in the army at the time — iighting 
against Eugenius. 

LiciNius. — But, Titus, it's a shame to ask an old man 
like that to drag- such an amount of flesh over the moun- 
tains of Asia, nierel}- to hunt wild animals for the circus! 

Gl.\brio {outside). — Oh, no! Ha! ha! 

TiTUS. — There they come now. 

{Enters Glabrio anii-in-ann 7<'ith Cains ami Carpilio.) 

(ii.AisKio. — ( )li, I was very beautiful when a boy, as 
must still be very evident to you! P.ut where is that 
scoimdrel. Titus? Hei ! Look at him! 

(Titus, Caius, Carpilio rush to embrace liini.) 

Titus, Carpilio, Caius. — Then you're coming! You're 
coming" ! 

Cii.ABRio. — Go 'way! Don't hug" me! Eve had enough! 

Titus. — Hug- you, indeed! 

Glabrio {ealliiio- for the waiter).— Ueve. you young- 
son of a Pagan! Bring some wine! {Sits at tabh\ Rii^Jit.) 

Cwui^. — \\\\\\ Titus, I can't understand him! He con- 
stantly refused to come, even when we gave him a most 



22 

glowing account of our larder, told him of the easy jour- 
ney, imperial wines and heavy purses^though he 
seemed to hesitate, he positively refused to come ! I 
l;a 1 given up all hope. What changed your mind? 

Glabrio. — Changed my mind? I never change my 
mind ! I may have been undecided, but when I heard 
about the wines and so forth, I said at once: "Old 
Glabrio, at your age you might better go out on the farm 
and help the young Emperor to feed his chickens, but 
charity demands you to sacrifice the comfort of old age 
for the welfare of these young lads ! They need a staid 
and steady head !" 

Titus. — And the galley needs ballast ! 

Caius. — Of course you care nothing for wine! Let 
me refill your glass ! 

Carpilio. — No ! He drinks to merely remove it from 
sight, lest by abundance we be tempted to excess ! 

Glabrio. — Aha ! Such wit, such wit ! I hope you take 
it not aboard ! We should be shipwrecked — "tis so 
heavy. 

Titus. — Come, come ! Don't be angry ! 

Glabrio. — Angry? I'm not angry! I'm only sad be- 
cause of your ingratitude, but wait — wait until we are 
hunting wild animals ! Then you'll thank God that a 
man of experience 

Caius. — What? Have you experience in hunting? 

Glabrio. — Have I experience in hunting? Why, lad, 
long before it entered into the head of any stork to bring 
you to your papa and mamma I was a famous hunter! 
See that eye? I lost that hunting bears. 

(A loud laiio^h greets this statenieiit, and Glabrio, in 
confusion, tries to change the coni'ersation by anxiously 
pointing to Licinius, and asking) : 

Glabrio. — But — who— who — who is that? 
Titus. — Oh, I beg your pardon, Licinius ! I was so 
pleased to hear of the old man's coming I forgot ! This 



23 

is Licinius, of the family of the h'al)ii. just returned from 
Africa. 

(Ilaurk). — Cilacl to meet you! Sit down! Al)- name is 
( llabrio — Julius Lucius (ilabrio. So you've been fio-htinj:;- 
that Moorish tyrant ( iildo ! Fought my first campaign 
against his brother. iMrmus — 1 Mains of (ietulia. There 
was fighting! Mave some wine! 

Licinius. — Thanks! I also am pleased to meet you — 
a soldier, who not only has borne the brunt of many bat- 
tles, but has, as I have now learned, suffered somewhat 
for the faith! 

Glabrio. — Suffered somewhat for the faith? Lve suf- 
fered more and risked more for the faith than any man 
in the empire! That affair of the Arians was nothing! 
You remember the time — about thirteen years ago — 
when Archbishop Ambrose stopped the Emperor, Theo- 
dosius, from entering the church at Milan? 

Titus, Caius. — Yes. yes. 

Carpilio, Lucinius. — Lve heard of it. 

Glabrio. — Well, wdien Ambrose told Theodosius that 
he couldn't enter, Rufinus became excited — he was try- 
ing to marry his daughter to one of the Emperor's boys, 
Arcadius or Honorius, he didn't care which, so it was 
necessary for him to show excitement. Then he roused 
Stilicho and the soldiers. The people, seeing this 
and fearing for Ambrose, were shouting : "Yield ! 
Yield !" The Archbishop became excited, and swore 
that if an angel came down from heaven he would an- 
athematize him, and therefore the Emperor could not 
enter ! I was excited, and as the soldiers drew their 
swords and made for Ambrose, I realized that it was in- 
cumbent on me as a martyr to protect the Archbishop 
even at the risk of my life ! So spreading my arms out 
this way, in order to grasp as many of the swords as 
possible, I rushed 

Caius. — Ha ! ha ! I can see you ! 

Carpilio — Ha ! ha ! 'Tis so like you ! 



24 

LiciNius. — Is it possible? 

Titus. — Well, really, now that I think of it, I do be- 
lieve 1 heard something about somebody rushing up to 
protect the Archbishop. Honestly, Glabrio, was it you? 

Gl.\brio. — Did I ever boast of it? In all the years that 
vou have known me, Titus, did you ever hear me even 
mention it ? The deed was notorious, done before the 
whole city, therefore I said : "(glabrio, modesty puts a 
seal upon vour lips! Keep silent! ( )thers know thy 
valor — let them speak!" But envy, rank pagan envy, 
has consigned me and my deeds to oblivion ! 

C.MUS. — 'Tis marvelous ! I would not have believed it ! 

Titus. — And he never mentioned it ! Congratulations, 
Glabrio ! 

LktiXIUS. — And mine! I love to see the rarest of 
rare combinations, a truly brave and truly modest sol- 
dier ! 

Titus. — But how was it you escaped instant death ! 

Gl.\i?rio. — ()h, there's another story, of whose ending 
jealousy has made me sad! I noticed that all during the 
speech of Ambrose Theodosius was watching me with 
ill-concealed admiration, but when he saw my display 
of courage, he said, as he told me afterwards in a private 
audience : "That brave soldier's life must be s|)ared. 
even if I'm obliged to humble the Imi)erial ])urple ; the 
Empire, in these degenerate days has, alas ! too few of 
such!" So as I rushed forward, he sprang in between 
me and the soldiers, shouting: "Hold, hold I Spare his 
life ! I submit !" 

LiciNius. — Wonderful ! And you say he never men- 
tioned it ! 

Caius. — Wonderful ! Wonderful ! 

Carpilio. — 'Tis strange that no promotion — 

Glabrio. — There, lad. there! You've put your finger 
on the sore spot of that affair ! Theodosius was going 
to make me a general 



25 

All. — General ? 

( iLARRlo. — Yes. hut llic jcalous wa.^s^eil their heads, 
and the tong'ues of the envious slandered nic, savint^-; 
"He is addicted to strong drink!" 

Titus. — Well, 1 should say, from what I know of you, 
that there was at least a foundation for the slander. 

Glabrio. — As there is to most every slander ! Yes, 
there was a foundation. I do sometimes take a little 
wine ! But ahvays for my stomach's sake, always for my 
stomach's sake ! It happened this way : We were in 
Africa — Plain of Cietnlia — and the rations fell short. 
( )ne day. in sheer desperation, 1 ate a mouldy hiscuit. 
That biscuit, lads, stayed on my stomach for three years ! 
Of course my health was ruined, and I have since been 
obliged to take stimulants. However, lads, my charity 
is so universal that 1 forgive even those people. 

Titus. — Why don't you tell this story to Prudentius? 

Glabrio. — Prudentius? Who is he? 

Caius. — Why he's the famous poet. 

Glabrio. — Ah ! Your idea is not bad ! If ever I re- 
turn from this expedition which charity imposes upon me, 
I will give him matter for a magnificent epic. Til tell 
him the story of my life. Now for some wine, Licinius? 

LiciNius. — No, no! 1 nnist be going! I accept the 
olifer of Titus and will be with you, at least as far as 
Constantinople. 

Caius. — Glad to hear it ! 

Titus. — And so am I. You'll be with us all the way! 
Affairs in the East will never satisfy you. 

Glabrio. — Woe's me ! Here is another that I must 
keep in the straight and narrow path ! 

Licinius. — Pll try not to give you much trouble. But 
I must hurrv ! I have some things to pack. Will you 
come, Titus ? 

Jixus. — Yes! Where shall we meet yon, Glabrio? 



26 

Glabrio. — Here, here by the fountain of perennial 
youth. 

(E.vctint others laiii^liiiii:^.) 

— Boy! A fine set of lads, and a merry! — Boy! Set 
the fountain playing ! 

I>o^\ — The — the fountain ? 

Glabrio. — Aha ! Thy wit is not fit to grease sandals ! 
Some wine! Some wine! (Exit box.) He should be a 
hewer of wood and not a drawer of wine ! Wine is made 
oetter by wit, but if it sees not a sparkle of humor in the 
eye of the tapster, "tis apt to become like him, dull, flat, 
and unprofitable! (Enters boy.) Pour out, boy; pour 
out! (Drinks.) Ah; a godly drink! You did not look 
at it long? 

Boy. — No, sir. 

Glabrio. — That was proper. Here! (Takes out purse.) 
Are you saving up quadrantes to go to the games? 

Boy. — No, sir. 

Glabrio. — Then begin. Here's something by way of 
a start. {Gives coin.) 

Boy. — But they are to have gladiatorial combats? 

Glabrio. — The first in many a day ! Ha ! ha ! Rare 
sport ! Rare sport ! 

{Starts to drink.) 

Boy. — My mother says it is wrong, and that 1 should 
not go to see men violate the law of God. 

Glabrio. — Eh? (Replaces tJie i^lass slozcly upon the 
table, looks at the boy, and acts as though the remark 
had aroused sad recollections. Suddenly his manner 
chani:;es to one of zrxation.) G-Ciet — get out! Get out! 
( Grasps the bottle and pours out another glass. Exit boy. 
Glabrio starts to drink, replaces glass, sighs, rises slozcly 
and, sad and dejected, zcalks Left.) 

GURTAIN. 



27 

Scene J. 
. I iiiniiittdir. ill . Isid. 

TiTL's. — IMh'wI a hard clinil). that! 

L'akimi.io. — Ves, indeed! ( ilahi-id must l)c exhausted. 
Look! 

Caius. — That's a shauie. Titus! Tliere ! lie almost 
fell ! 

(Liciiiiiis jiiiiips doicii.) 

Titus. — Better leave him alone. He'll not thank you. 

LiciNius. — I don't care. {Calls back.) 

Caius. — You should not have allowed him to come, 
Titus ! 

Titus. — Well, he insistetl on visiting the hospice, yet 
would not use the litter I had improvised — those Turks 
could have carried him safely enough, at least most of 
the way. What else could I have done? 

Carpilio. — He'll certainly blame us; and vigorously, 
too. 

( ii.Ar.Kio. — ( io 'wa\' ! ( lO 'wa\" ! 

Titus. — Licinius has received his welcome. I knew it ! 

Caius. — Here, give me your hand! {Rcachiii<^ oi'cr.) 

(iLAiiRio. — Never! Never! {Ccynics up. i^^aspiiii:; for 
breath. i:;lares at all. sits down flat on stas^e, back a^^ainst 
a rock. ) 

Titus. — Just wait till he gets his breath ! 

( Glabrio takes his Hask. shakes it near his ear. It is 
eni/^ty. He places it leith a si<:;li by his side.) 

Carpilio. — Have you any wine left, Licinius? 
Licinius. — Yes. (Goes to ij^ii'c it to Glabrio.) 
Titus. — No, wait ! Wait till the storm is over ! 
Glabrio. — Kind Heaven ! Thou dost punish me for 
associating with gadabouts instead of with sensible men ! 



28 

Titus {drawiiii^ a long brcatli). — Phew! My! This 
mountain air is as hracing as wine ! 

Glabrio. — Oh ! What hlasphemy ! ( )h, you rogues, 
you wretches, you traitors! Oh, I wisli I were the Pope, 
or even a bishop! I would anathematize you all. To 
bring' me to such extremities and then to laugh at me ! 

Titus. — We did not bring you! You would not let us! 

(^LAiJRio. — Don't talk to me! Don't talk to me! You 
are all heretics ! 

Caius. — We're all heretics ! 

Glabrio. — Yes, heretics, pagan heretics ! 'Tis only they 
who dishonor the relics of martyrs! Pm a martyr, and 
there's nothing left of me but relics, and these you have 
dishonored ; therefore you are heretics. You are all ex- 
communicated, banished from the church, cut off root 
and branch. 

Titus. — Oh, ^•ou are outrageous! We never intend- 
ed 

Glabrio. — Go, go out and jump and ski]) on the rock 
with the other goats ! Get acquainted ! You'll all be 
together on the day of judgment! 

LiciNius. — Why don't you be reasonable? It's impos- 
sible to talk with you ! 

Glabrio. — Then don't try to talk with me ! Don't speak 
to me ! Don't even look at me ! 

Cari'ilio. — Come away! Leave him alone! 

Titus. — Yes, come. He'll cool down by and by. (All 
gu lip stage.) See, is not that a hermit's cell? 

(Exeunt into hermit's eai'e.) 

Glabrio. — I must have been possessed by the devil 
when T started out on this expedition ! Only now have I 
begun to see my reason! What do I care for the circus? 
Nothing! WHiat do I want with wild animals? They're 
not necessary for me ! They're not even useful ! Yes, 



29 

'tis cU-ar! I was possessed 1)\ the devil I And when \ 
determined to visit the liosjjice on these mountains, he 
tried to (Hssnade me. knowing that the holy monks would 
discover him and drive him out. I see it all now. These 
lads elimhed u]) easil\ enough, hut the de\il forced me to 
walk in a rough road, and he tri])])ed me on the rocks — 
trying to make me turn hack. As 1 had the grace of a 
martyr. I ]<vp{ on. though I was pufhng and sweatint' 
and swearing. Wan! I'hew! Ikit 1 became heated! 
So much so. indeed, that the devil said to himself: "My. 
hut this fellow is hot! It's much cooler at home!" So he 
left me. The lads are not to blame! 1 forgive them! 
Besides, I think they have some wine. 

( lintcr Tcloiiachus, Cuius. Carf^ilio. Tifiis and Li- 
ciniits. ) 

Trrrs. — Oh. no. l-'ather! We left a large party of 
hunters in the foot-hills. We thought only of .staying 
tliere for the night. 

( ii.AisRro. — Hello! A hermit! The hospice must he 
near. 

Telem.\chus. — lliough I am indeed sorry to lose the 
pleasure of your company, yet T must advise you to 
]~)ush on. for though it is only tw-o miles further 

( ii.ABRio. — ( )h, Lord ! 

Tklkm.vchus the road is rather rough, and once the 

sun has set. night comes on very fast. 

(iL.\BRio. — I have come here to die ! ( Rises and ,;'('t\s- fa 
TclcinacJnts. Falls an his knees.) 

TiTU.s. — I was anxious to do so. hut one of our par- 
t_\- 

Gi-.\i!Kio. — lUess me. Father. I am about to die! 

TKLiiMACHUS. — The old man I met in Milan! (.Iside ) 
( )h. vou're not going to die just }et ! 

Glabrio. — Yes, yes I am. Like Lsaac. I have carried 



30 

lip the mountain tb.e sacriticial fuel — this load of flesh — 
wliich has already half consumed me ! Two miles more 
will finish me ! 

Telemachus. — Jf }ou will be satisfied with what com- 
forts a poor hermit can offer, you are welcome to sta\' 
here. The others will meet you in the morning'. After a 
good night's rest yon will not find the descent difificult. 

Glabrio. — I am mdeed grateful ; but. you see, Father, 
once, when in the army, I ate a mouldy biscuit, and 

All. — And he is obliged to take a little wine. 

Glabrio. — But just for my stomach's sake! You un- 
derstand. Father. 

Telemachus. — I understand; and am very sorry; but 
I have none. 

LiciNiu.s. — Here, }ou may have mine. 

Caius. — And mine. 

Glabrio. — Ha! ha! ^'ou all thought 1 was angry with 
you — didn't you? Ha! ha! And the old man was jok- 
ing — only joking — all the time! Ha! ha! 

TiTU.s. — Will you sta}- or come with us? 

Gl.\brio. — I really think, lads, that I should stay here! 
This hermit is lonely, and charity demands us to com- 
fort the lonely ! 

Caius. — Well, that's good ! Ha ! ha ! 

Telemachus. — Thank you, thank you ! Your compan\- 
will, indeed, be welcome! 

Titus. — Come, we must be going ! 'Till morning, then ! 
Thank you. Father, and may God be with you ! 

Others. — God be with \ou ! 

Gl.vbrio (calling Tit its back). — Titus, I think you had 
better tell the Superior of the hospice that you left a sick 
man on the road. He would like to know it, and would 
be off ended if he could not send a little something to 
strengthen, me for the morning's journey. 

Titus. — Ha! ha! Without doubt! God be with you. 
(Exit.) 



31 

Glabrio.— -And with xou, and with )()U all, lads. 

Telemachus. — Conic, let nie condnct }()n to a com- 
fortable seat. T know you must be very tired. ( Goes 
ui'cr and sits on rock. ) 

Glabrio. — Thank you. thank you ! 

Telemachus. — I see you do not recoi^^nize me! 

CjL.xbrio. — Recognize you? { Lookiiii:; at In in.) No! 
Turn around ! No ! 

Telemachu.s. — I met xou in Milan nearly fourteen 
years ago. 

Glabrio. — Let me see ! Theodosius was alive then. 
Yes! Yes! I was in Milan at the time. 

Telemachus. — Yes, Theodosius was alive. Do you 
remember when Arcbl)ish()]) Aml)rose stopped him from 
entering the church. 

Glabrio. — Vou mean when I sto — Say ! Are you that 
boy, Telemachus? 

Telemachus. — Yes. 

Glabrio. — Well, well, well ! And you're that boy Te- 
lemachus ! 

Telemachus. — Yes. 

Glabrio. — Well, w^ell, well! And you're living here? 

Tele:maciius. — Why — ha! ha! yes! \\'hy not? 

(iLABRio. — Well, well, well ! So you're that boy ! And 
you've turned hermit. Do you know, I always thought 
you'd be a soldier ! 

Telemachus. — So I am. 

Glabrio. — Oh, I mean a soldier like myself. Wh\-, 
man, with the courage you displayed at Milan, you'd now 
be in for some of those honors our Emperor is ])reparing 
for his big war lords in Rome. 

Telemachus. — With the same display of courage I 
shall some day have greater honors. 

Glabrio.— Oh. that's all right ! But you've never seen 
such honors as are to be given to these generals. 

Telemachus. — No. but T can imagine them. 



Z2 

(iLAHRK). — Indeed, that you cannot, for Lord Honorius 
is determined to honor StiHcho as no man has been hon- 
ored in centuries — sokHers from all the provinces in a 
g'orgeous military tournament; hundreds of wild beasts 
to be hunted in every conceivable manner ; gladiatorial 
combats ; chariot rac 

Ti<:li-:imaciius. — ( dadiatorial combats ! What? Is Ho- 
norius, the son of Theodosius, to give gladiatorial com- 
bats ? 

(iLAURio. — Yes, indeed ! 

Telemachus. — How can it be! 1 l<nv can he do it — 
he — a Christian? And how can a Christian ])eople sit 
and a])]jlau(l their fellow men. cutting and slashing each 
other to death! ( )h. Lord Cod, forbid it! 

(iLAisKio. — It's the custom, man! 

Tklicmachus. — Custom? Why, with such reasoning- 
you could sanction all the other abominations of Pagan- 
ism ! Custom, forsooth! 'Twas once the custom to ofifer 
human sacrifices to Moloch. Pagan Rome renamed the 
god and called him Pleasure. It now seems that a 
Christian Emperor wishes to retain the cult, but under 
what new name, I know not, and care not! The fact re- 
mains — a crime against humanity, a monstrosity in the 
sig-ht of the Church, a slap in the face of Cod, Who 
wrote amid the thunders of Sinai the commandment: 
'■'riiou shalt not kill !" 

Clai'.rio. — I guess you're Telemachus. 

TELKMAtiius. — Yes, yon are right! I am Telemachus, 
the boy Telemachus, only a boy uttering a vain, childish 
lament upon a barren mountain, when 1 should be doing 
the deeds of a man of God! lUit forgive me! I fcn-get 
myself! 'Tis so seldom 1 have the honor of a guest 
that 1 hope you will ])ardon my neglect of the duties of 
a host. What can I do for \()u ? 

Gi>ABRio. — What can }ou do for me? Ma! ha! Plac? 
me on a downy couch ! 



33 

Tia.KMACiius. — Rather an inip()ssil)Ic task tdr several 
reasons, the first of which is the hick of a couch. Mv own 
is but a hide spread upon some rushes ; to that vou're 
welcome. 

(li.Ai'.Rio. — "Twill he as down, for 1 am as wearv as the 
.Seven Holy Sleepers. lUit where will you sleep? 

'ri:LKM.\cHi;s. — Sleep? How can I. a hermit, slee|), 
when in my brain are crowding thoughts of what the 
Christian men of Rome must be, that they can give and 
view with pleasure those ungodly scenes of blood, where 
passion is transformed to fury, and all the awful sav- 
agery of men rises to a flood that breaks all moral bonds ! 
Sleep? 1 cannot sleep! Rut pardon me again! Come. 
( (locs ill flic cell. ) 

Clahrio. — Hei, hei ! So you can't sleep, thinking of 
the crimes and follies of men! Say "Deo Gratias," then, 
that \ou are U]) here on this mountain, for were you in 
Rome, vou'd have so much to think about that you'd 
never sleej) ! 1 wonder will he drink? (Takes up the 
t-a'o Hasks. ) I hope not. for like some poor little bird 
that has been swept out upon a barren island by the 
fur\- of a storm, so have I been carried hither by a whirl- 
wind of charity for those lads, and now find myself for- 
saken and alone, with nothing but two half-emjity flasks 
to comfort me. Dh, T should have made a rare hermit 
but for that mouldy biscuit ! If I were not so sleepy that 
m\- tongue is weak, I would give him a flne sermon 1 
have prepared on temperance. 

(Enter Tcleiiiachiis.) 

Telemachus.-— Come ! You shall have a hermit's sup- 
per and a hermit's bed. (Helps him to rise.) 

Glabrio.— Thank you, thank you! Ah! Oh! My legs 
were sadlv overworked to-da\-. I'm weary, weary. 



34 

Telemachus. — Weary only in body? Are you never 
wear}- at heart ? 

Glabrio. — What? Hum! Say, I'll tell you a secret if 
you won't laugh at me. 

Telemachus. — Laugh at you ? Why should I ? 

Glabrio. — Oh, I don't know ! lUit I guess it's this 
damnable mix-up of a makeup that I am ! Nobody that 
1 ever met in my whole life dreamt for a moment of tak- 
ing me seriousl}'. I am to everybody nothing more than 
a good-natured fool. I could never open my mouth on 
the most serious subjects, but people thought I was 
tritiing. So when scarcely more than a boy, I gave up 
even attempts at seriousness ; and have since lived like a 
buffoon! I tell you, it has been the ruin — Confound it! 
You're laughing! 

Telemachus. — No. no! Relieve me! No. 

(iLABKio. — I know better. Where's that wine! I've 
made a fool of myself! I'm going to bed — Where's that 
wine ? 

Teleal\chus. — Oh, dear Glabrio, believe me! I could 
not possibly be more serious! I was not laughing! I 
could not. if 1 tried ! 

Gl.\bri(). — T (li)n't believe you! lUit still I'll tell you if 
Miu'll keep away from me and laugh by yourself. I 
think as vou do about those gladiatorial combats, and I 
wish \()U would show your courage — be another Am- 
brose, and put a stop to them! There! You believe me, 
don't vou?* Y(ni think I want those fights stopped! Ha I 
ha! Good joke! Ha! ha! ( )h, pshaw! 

Telem.\chus. — ^^'hy, of course T believe you. Here, 
wait ! Let me show 

(iLAURio. — Keep away from me! Yimr home is not so 
large that I shall get lost in it. I'll find a ])lace to sleep! 

Telemachus. — Now, please, Glabrio 

Glabrio. — Don't say please to me! .\nd keej) awa\- ! 
That's the first serious word Lve spoken in thirty or 



35 

forty yi'urs — and it's the last! Wine alone Ijelieves in 
me. and I in it ! {Exit. ) 

Tki.kmaciius. — Poor old man! How sad! A noble 
natm-e wreckerl b_\- triflins;! T.ike a man who lies till no 
one will lielieve his solemn oaths, so he has joked till all 
who know him jndge him a bnttoon. I'll follow. Xo ! 
Itoth he and I are best alone. {Jralks slo2i'i\ away from 
cu'c'i-. iiiiisiiii^. ) 

"Show yom- courage! Be another Ambrose! Stop 
the combats!" Wdiy not? 'Twould not be the first time 
a hermit descended from his mountain cell to fi.giit fcjr 
Christianity and the truth ! 1 might bring- the young- 
Emperor to abolish them. I could cite, with telling 
effect, I think, the example of his father. What Theo- 
dosius did in Thessalonica was done in anger and in 
haste, and for it he was, to an almost heroic degree of 
Christian humilitw truly repentant. Will the son of such 
a father calmly and tleliberately urge men to kill one 
another for the unholy pleasure of a senseless, cruel 
mob ! Should neither the commandment of (jod nor the 
exaniple of his father — pshaw ! The boy Telemachus 
and X'anity are talking! Honorius knows well enough 
all I could tell him, and lest he forget there are in Rome 
plenty of zealous priests and holy bishops to remind him. 
'Tis all a teniptation ! Thou art a hermit, Telemachus, 
and thy duty is clear. Thou must stay on the mountain, 
and. like Moses, keep thy hands raised to God in prayer 
that those who fight in the valleys may be victorious. 

{Goes up and kneels on the roeks.) 

Greath' loving God, my Father, give ear to the jirayer 
of Thv son, and turn not away Thy head in wrath. For 
T know that, seeing the crimes that are planned for these 
victorious games. Thou art moved deeply to anger. But 
consider. Ford God. mv Father, the cunning of the Evil 



One. and have mercy u]:»on them. He has bhnfled their 
eyes with Pleasure, and they will not read in their hearts 
Thy commandment "Thou shalt not kill." "He has 
filled their ears with vanity, and they will not listen to 
the voice of Thy faithful priests and bishops saying: 
"Thou shalt not kill." Therefore, Almighty and All- 
knowing God, Thou Who canst from these stone raise 
u]) children unto Abraham, raise up in the midst of Thy 
erring people, raise up. () God, I implore, some doughty, 
fearless champion of the faith, who, like Thy servants. 
Moses, Xathan and Ambrose, reckoning not the majesty 
of King or Emperor, may, to win Honorius and his peo- 
ple to true Christian piety, and to remove from Thy 
sight this abomination of Satanic Paganism, become, 
with Thy all-powerful grace, if needs be, the martyred 
Victor of the Coliseum. Amen, O God, Amen ! 

(He bozvs his head upon the rock; an angel appears 
from out the clouds carrying a zvreath of laurel and bend- 
ing doznm says) : 

Angel. — I crown thee, \'ictor of the last gladiatorial 
fight in Rome. 

(The crown on his head Teleinachus looks around, 
sees the Angel and falls prone upon the rock.) 

CURTAIN. 



37 

PART II. 

Act II. 

Scene i. 

A road to Rome, liarly morniii;^. Pnicicittius is ilis- 
coz'crcd on Left, looking back on Rome. 

Prudkxtius. — Rome. Rome. Rome! l^arewell ! Ill- 
fated city that 1 love, farewell ! The curse of an offended 
God. I fear, will come u])on thee, for as a corporate citv 
thou this da}- dost execute a long-meditated public crime. 
Those poor pagan glatliators are not to blame! Thou. 
C), Rome ! thou art to blame ! T blaiue your hundred- 
thousand Christians, who. even now. through the holy 
hush of dawn, are hastening to the Amphitheater to ap- 
plaud the violation of a great commandment ! I blame 
your customs; blame your laws; blame your institu- 
tions, and. most of all. I blame vour Emperor, who, de- 
spite my own feeble, poetic protest, despite the pleadings 
of the better men of Rome, despite the exhortations of 
zealous priests and bishops, despite his own knowledge 
of the law of God, still not merely tolerates, but by his 
authorit}' forces those valiant fathers of homes and hopes 
of families to die in torture and in ignominy for the un- 
holy pleasure of that great unnumbered mob from which 
his armies are recruited. Tint 1 have done ill in looking 
back on Rome ! ( lod's vengeance may o'ertake me as it 
did the wife of Lot, who — Mello ! \\'ho is this monk that 
with such eager steps hastens on to Rome? 1 must i)re- 
vent him I 

(Enter Telemachus.) 



6ii 

God be with yon, Father. 

Telemachus. — Thank yon; and with yon. 

Prudentius. — Stay, Father. 

Telemachus. — Who are yon, and wherefore do you 
stop me? 

Prudentius. — 1 am one Prndentins, a Christian poet, 
and I warn yon not to go to Rome lest yon enconntcr the 
jnst wrath of God, which I fear wiU strike that city for 
nnholy, civil-sanctioned mnrder. 

Telemachus. — ft has indeed merited it. bnt fear not! 
God's mercy has prevailed ! There shall be no gladiatorial 
fight to-day. No, nor henceforth while Eternal Rome is 
Rome ! 

Prudentius. — Would that what yon say were true ! 

Telemachus. — It is true. 

Prudentius. — ( )h, yon are a stranger ! Yon know 
nothing of conditions there in Rome. The better class of 
Christians have in united effort long since exhausted 
every means — even to-day a signed protest will be hand- 
ed to the Emperor. But 'tis vain ! He will not stop it, 
for his armies need recruiting. He dare not stop it, 
for the mob, knowing well our action, is antagonized ; 
and though I left the city when 'twas scarcely day, they 
even then, with loud, angry threats, were thronging 
through the streets in ugly groups. To what heights of 
fury will they rise when scenes of blood have roused the 
pagan passions that have slept for years ! No, No ! He 
dare not, could not, stop it now ! 

Telemachus. — Yet I say again: "There shall be no 
gladiatorial fight to-day !" 

Prudentius. — Pardon, Father, but you err! Naught 
but the power of God could stop that contest now ! 

Telemachus. — And is the hand of the Lord shortened? 

Prudentius. — No. but 

Telemachus. — You think He will not act? 

Prudentius. — Naturally, one cannot expect 



39 

Telemachus. — Do you know the l^niperor? 

I'rudentius. — Yes ! 

Telemachus. — Personally ? 

Prudentius. — We were till latel\- very friendly. 

Telemachus. — You think you could present nie? 

Prudentius. — Why, Father, you see 

Telemachus. — 1 mean, were circumstances dififerent, 
coukl you ? 

Prudentius. — Readily, at all times. 

Telemachus. — Then look upon my face I 1 know 'tis 
pale and haggard, for 1 have suifered much from shij)- 
wreck, forced marches, sleepless nights and want of 
food. But can you trust me? Can you believe me? 

Prudentitus. — Why of course, Father, your very 
ofarb 

Telemachus. — Then come at once with me to Rome; 
present me to the lunperor ! 

Prudentius. — But, Father 

Telemachus. — Can you trust me? x\s a man of (iod, 
I promise you upon the word of God : "That contest 
shall be stopped !" 

Prudentius. — How ? 

Telemachus. — I know not how, but it shall be 
stopped. I must try all human means — the first and most 
obvious seems to seek the Emperor. Will you come? 

Prudentius (aside). — Who can this be that promises 
upon the word of God ? 

Telemachus. — You say that you have tried to prevent 
this crime. Will you not make one elifort more? 

Prudentius (aside). — He seems, indeed, a man of 
God! 

Telemachus. — Then I will go alone. 

Prudentius ( a-s-/Wr).— Perhaps 'tis folly; but per- 
haps 

Telemachus. — God be with you. (Starts.) 

Prudentius. — I'll go. 



40 

Telemachus. — Then hurry, for I have delayed too 
hmi^. While on the road I'll tell you somewhat of myself. 
r>ut come. Back to Rome! 

Prudentius. — Yes, back to Rome ! May God be with 
us ! 

Telemachus. — Doubt it not ! He will be ! 

CURTAIN. 



Scene 2. 

The Gladiators' ijiiarfers in the Cohseiiin — a stone 
eh.aniber xvith tieo i^reat gates in the center openiiii!; out 
into the arena. At these a soldier is stationed. Near to 
him is Titns. On the rii^ht is a small door. Below it, 
some seated, some standing, are Abrogastes, I'itnrins, 
Meletins, Radigasins; and in front of them tlie lanista, 
Boto. carrying in his hand a staff about four feet long. 
On the left, seated and e.vami)iing their xeeaf^ons, are 
Sams, Garamantes, Seraf^us, Tigelinus. In front stands 
the lanista, Galatus, also carryijig a staff. Back in the 
iipf^er right-luuid corner is a small table, containing a 
piece of parchment and ziriting materials. In the upper 
left-hand corner, a small table, zeith a zvinc bottle and a 
glass. Near the center of the stage is the Editor, Marcus. 
As the curtain goes up a general shout is heard from the 
people in the Amphitheater. The soldier is observed clos- 
ing the gates. 

Marcus. — Shut the orates! Pardon, Titus, if I jirevent 
you from viewing the hunt, Init we can run no risks. 
(People applaud back.) One of those wild beasts mio^ht 
dodge in and before we succeeded in killing him 

Titus. — One of the Pets might l)c injured. 

Marcus. — Exactlv ! Tliev nuist not liave a scratch 



41 

upon tlu'iii — lia I ha! — at least not Ix'forc tlic tinic. They 
are in tine form now. are they not? 

TiTL's. — Uoth I>oto and ( ialatus deserw cont^ratnla- 
tions : their men seem in perfect concHtion. [Loud ap- 
plause.) 

BoTO AND Galatus. — Thank you. 

{Boii' to Titus. Applause coutiuucd.) 

jNIarcus. — I jiul.Qi'e from the applause that the hunt is 
finished. 

(Glabrio knocks at door to ri<:;lit. Marcus goes to 
door.) 

What do you want ? No ! You can't come in here ! 
These are the ^s^Iadiators' quarters. What? Titus, see 
here! Do you know this man? 

TiTi's. — Oh, yes ! ha ! ha ! Let him come in. 

Glabrio. — Thank you, thank you, Titus! You've saved 
my life ! The very hreath was being squeezed out of me 
by that crowd of pagans in the street. By strategy and 
fighting, bv begging, lying and pushing I reached the 
outer door, but if I were a burr on a dog's tail I could go 
no farther. 

Titus. — I wish I had seen you ! 

Glabrio. — Wau ! They were as furious as devils ! 
Some one spread the report that the fight was to be 
stopped, so arming themselves with clubs and stones, 
they are crowding back into the wedges. But, Titus, in 
that awful crush my stomach 

Titus. — Ha! ha! You'll find some yonder. (Poitits to 
table. Left.) 

Glabrio. — Get some glasses. I don't want to drink 
alone. Give these fellows something. Half of them are 
going where there is no wine, or, if any, only what has 
been mulled with a devil's poker. 



42 

AIarcus. — Take a drink if }ou wish it, but mind vour 
own affairs! These men are allowed no wine. 

Glabrk ). — Who are you that pretend to give orders ? 
Titus, put hi 

Titus. — Shee ! This is the Editor delegated by Ho- 
norius. 

Glahrio. — (dad to meet you. Have a drink. Xo? All 
right. So you are the one who pairs these fellows off for 
the fight? Well, well! Lads, I alone will toast you. 
Idere's to your sudden death ! 

Marcus. — Titus, he shall either have to keep quiet or 
leave here. Boto, Galatus ! 

{BotJi lanistae go with Marcus to Upper Right. Mar- 
cus prepares to write. Talk between the three.) 

Titus. — Glabrio, kee]i quiet, or I shall be obliged — 
( takes him dozvn Left Lower. ) 

Glabrio. — Tve done all that charity demands, and as 
they are an ungrateful set, Fll say no more. 

Marcus. — Sarus, come ! Bring your weapons ! 

( As the ghidiators are caUed they go up to Marcus, 
-icho e.vaniiues their leeapons. consults -with the hviistae 
and writes their names. ) 

Glabrio. — But, Titus, do you know whom T saw in the 
crowd out there? Telemachus ! 

Titus. — What? The hermit? 

Glabrio. — The same, and he certainly looked ex- 
hausted ! His face was drawn and haggard ; his cassock 
torn and covered with mud ! 

BoTO. — Radigasius — Here ! Bring your weapons ! 

Titus. — What brings him to Rome, and in such con- 
dition? 

Glabrio. — I can guess. He was with Prudentius. and 



43 

they were beggino- the crowd to make way for tliem. sa\- 
iiig they wislied to see the Kiiiperor. 

IJoTo. — X'iturius, come! Your \vea])ons. 

{/enters a soldier, i^'lio speaks to Marcus.) 

TfiL'S. — I wonder docs lie 1 



' nope 

AIakcl's. — Titus, a sojlcher to see you. 
I'lTi's. — Send him liere. ( 7>) Clahrio). To stop this 
light? (To soldier) Well, what is it? 

Soldier. — A monk fainted in the street and, falling', 
was somewhat injured! 

Titus (to Glabrio). — Can this l)e he? 

Soldier. — His companion, who calls himself Truden- 
tius 

TiTL'S. — That is he. liring- him in immediatel\ ! (Exit 
soldier.) Marcus, I hope I shall not disturb you, but a 
hermit who was very hospitable to us in Asia was just 
now injured in the street. I ordered him brought in 
here. 

Marcus. — All right! We shall soon be finished, (iala- 
tus, call }-our man ! 

(J.\LATUS. — Serapis ! Your weapons, too! 

( /inter 7'eleiiiaeliiis and Pnideutius. I'eleinaehus is 
exhausted and leans upon the arm of Prudentius.) 

1'kude.\til-s. — This is very kind of you, gentlemen, 
very kind. 

C;.\LATL'S. — Garamantes. ( iaramantes ! Come ! Your 
weapons, too ! 

TELE^rACHUS (to l^itus). — r)h, is that you, my friend? 
Come, hurry! Take me to the Emperor! 

J'rl'dextius. — Rest yourself. Father, rest yourself! 
You're exhausted ! 

Telemachus. — I have recovered. T feel very strong 



44 

now, thank you. Let us hurry — liurry. or I shall be too 
late! 

Titus. — Hut. Father, it's impossible I 

Teleaiachus. — Not for Godl Xothing is impossible 
to Him ! I'll go alone ! 

TiTL's. — I'll not allow it, leather. Til not allow it! It's 
rank madness. A Roman legion could not get through 
that crowd to the Emperor ! 

Telemachus. — Here on my knees, I implore 

Titus. — Come, Father, be calm ! You are beside your- 
self! I'd gladly help you. but 'tis impossible. (Enrcr 
Ilcvahi.) You must wait till the combats are over. See. 
here comes the herald ! The arena is cleared ! They'll 
soon begin ! 

Marcus. — Just a moment, Herald, just a moment! Ti- 
gellinus ! 

Telemachus. — 'Tis the will of God! 

Prudentius. — That's it. Father, be reconciled ! God 
does not ask the impossible! 

Ti:lemachus. — He has some other way — some other 
way to stop this crime ! 'Tis not by means of the Em- 
peror. Xo ! Some other way! lUit what? 

Marcus. — Abrogastes — your weapons ! 

Telemachus. — Oh. God, give me light ! What shall I 
do? What shall I do? Thou knowest I have not tar- 
ried — have not delayed for food or sleep. And yet it 
seems I have arrived too late ! What now remains for 
me to do, (), Lord? What yet remains? 

Marcus. — Herald, proclaim this to the people. Hurry ! 

TiGELLiNUS. — Hold ! Does this mean that Abrogastes 
and I are to fight together? 

Marcus. — Yes ! Go, Herald. 

TiGELLiNUS. — Wait ! That bill must be changed ! 

Marcus. — It shall not be changed ! 

Abroga.stes. — I say it shall. It's contrary to agree- 
ment ! 



45 

Makc L's. — What a<;rcenient ! 

Tk;!-:!, LINUS. — llctween IJoto, (ialatus and ourselves. 

.Maiuus. — Xo sucli thiiii^! 

.\r.K(i(;ASTi;.s. — IJcito, was it imt es])eciall\ stipulated 
when we started in training that I was not to ti^ht 
a,<.i"ainst my brother-in-law? 

Tici- 1,1.1 MS. — (ialatus. what say you? Was not that 
the agreement ? 

Horo. — I said that I wcnikl try to so arrange it. 

(iAL.VTL'S. — That's all I promised. Marcus 

Ai!K()<;asti-:s. — ^'ou lie. P)Oto ! ^'ou lie! 

Tkiki.li.xl'S. — .-\n(l so do vou. (Ialatus! ^'ou promised 
positively that I should not be obliged tu fight with my 
wife's lirother ! 

.Makcl's. — They promise! What promise could they 
make ! I alone have power to select the combatants, and 
I choose \()n two to fight, and you shall fight! T know 
your wife is i)resent, Tigellinus. a lucky accident — 'twill 
add — ha ! ha ! — a little spice to the combat. 

Prudentius. — What monstrous inhumanity ! 

Tklk.machus. — What devil of cruelty has possessed 
you. man? Can you have a human heart and yet give the 
decision of a fiend ? Have you neither fear of God nor 
res])ect f()r humanity? 

]\L\Ktrs. — Monk, do \()ur preaching elsewhere! The 
Coliseum is not \et a church. Herald, proclaim that bill! 

Gl.\1!RIo. — Wait — look you here! 

Prudk.xtius. — Hold ! In memory of your mother 
1 



Tele.maciius. — Have pity, at least, upon the wife! 

Tigellinus. — There is surely interest enough 

Abrocastes. — W'ill nothing move you ? 

Titus. — Quiet all ! Marcus, you and I were always 

on fair terms ! Xow, don't you think that in this case 

M.xKcus. — I'll have no interference in this afifair, Ti- 



46 

tus. not even ^rom you. So, Herald, go — go, I tell you, 
and proclaim it ! 

( E.vit, applause.) 

(Ilap.ru). — Ala}- the devil niake sandals of your skin! 
^'ou horned beast ! 

Telemacitus. — This must be stopped! This must be 
stopped! ( )h, God, point out the way! (Aside.) 

A]!R()(;a.stes. — Tigellinus, give me thy hand! You can 
overcome me, Tigellinus. and if the thumbs are turned 
up — why 

Tigellinus. — No, no! By all the gods! Say no more, 
Abrogastes. say no more ! 

Abrogastes. — But if the worst should come! Oh, Ti- 
gellinus. T know you have already little chicks enough to 
feed — but — mine own. Tigellinus — you'll not forget 
them ? 

Marcus. — Come, come, there ! No concocting a mock 
fight! You'll fight fairly, or else your only pay shall be 
the hisses of the mob. 

TiGELLiN'US. — Fight fairly. Marcus? You need not 
warn Tigellinus or Abrogastes to fight fairly ! We'll give 
that mob yelling yonder in the wedges as fair a fight as 
was ever seen in the arena! But to be fair to you, and 
above all. to be fair to her whom I love better than my 
life, I call all the gods to witness that, should I prove 
victor of the combat and Abrogastes fall wounded on 
the sands, if all the thumbs of broad Eternal Rome were 
turned against him, I will not kill him, that T swear ! 

Abrogastes. — And in like manner so swear T! 

Telemachus. — T see you both have kindly, noble 
hearts. Daily contact with cruel, bloody men has not 
quite blunted in your breasts the better instincts of a 
man. You both have wives and families that you love. 
You cannot v.'ish vour sons to follow vour career ot life. 



47 

Sft tlK'iii not, thcrerdiw llii.s liitrrihlc (.-xanipk' ! ( )li. men. 
go not out to that unnatural combat ! Rebel against that 
despicable edict! Why not, with all of nature's higher 
promptings in revolt, why not assert the manhood that is 
in you and tell that harsh, unfeeling man, \()U still have 
your freedom and you will not fight. 

TiCELLlNUS. — Why not? I'ecause, taken from our cap- 
tive fathers, who had in vain defended their native lands 
against the discipline and skill of Rome, we were tre- 
panned in helpless infancy, cast with foundlings and 
slaves into a college, where we were not only reared, 
prepared and fitted for this calling, but hopelesslv un- 
fitted for every other. Why not ? }ou ask. Have we not 
human ties and afitections like other men? Have we no 
families whom we must feed, and yet can do so only 
with the blood that flows from our gashes? If the gladi- 
ator did and sutfered and was all that he is, as I have 
seen some to be, for mere sport, and at his own personal 
expense, I know many who would respect him. But I, 
Tigellinus, I, and these patient, dauntless men you see 
about you, would scorn him, and spurn him, and spit 
upon him. I fight because I have a wife whom I must 
protect in the only manner that tender Rome has taught 
me — with a lacerated but fearless breast. I fight because 
I have children whom by my toils, efforts and sufiferings, 
I would keep out of want and degradation. 1 and Abro- 
gastes pass through yonder gate to fight, not to do the 
bidding of that man, who thinks to win the favor of Ho- 
norius by matching us together, but only in order that 
those whom we love may never enter it. 

Telemachus. — Forgive — forgive me if I seemed to 
judge vou wrongly. I know that whatever in so dread- 
ful and wicked a pastime is noble, courageous, unselfish, 
heroic, you, the gladiators — you, the victims, give and 
exhibit. But can't you see that these splendid qualities 
and virtues are exercised for a base and cruel purpose, 



48 

and in a wicked, sinful manner, and that, thei'efore, you 
must desist, ever thoug'h those whom you love mav 
suffer? 

( Tniiii/u'l call, back. ) 

.M.\K(L\s. — Come, come! Ijoto and (lalatus, lead your 
schools separately around the arena. Then, men, give 
the hjnperijr the c^rdinar)- salutation, and fight as you 
were chosen. Both vou lanist;e see to it that all is done 
fairl}- and according to the laws. Start ! 

riuDi'-XTius. — Alas! There's no sto|)ping the fight 
now ! 

Titus. — Stop it ! I should say not ! 

ITcELLixus (buckliii^L:^ on his shield). — Monk, I am a 
I'agan, and so see not why 1 should withdraw. lUit I 
ask \-ou : \\'h}- is bread made? Why are houses built? 
I'.ccause they are wanted. And wli)- do Pagan heroes 
fig"ht ? Because Christian cowards wish to sit at ease 
and see a brave man die. 

( ll.vciuU Boto and his iiicii. then Calatus and his men. 
I'iij^clliniis last. Loud, continued apf'lausc as they [^ass 
aloni:^. ) 

i Tclcniachiis doicn front. The i^ates are closed 7chcn 
all are out. Near them are Titus. Clabrio, J/t/rc/z-v. Pru- 
denfius ,t!;oes fori^'ard. sayin^i.:^) : 

Pkudkntius. — T cannot, 1 will not kjok upon this 
crime ! 

Telemachus (aside). — Because Christian cowards 
wish to sit at ease and see a l)rave man die! {Al^[>lause 
from arena.) 

Marcus. — Good — good! Idie jx'ople are very enthusi- 
astic ! 



49 

Trrus. — Yes. few tluiml)s will he turned (lown to-day! 

'ri-;i.i-'..M.\c'ii rs. — I lew can t]ie\- thus a|)])laud within the 
Cnliseuni. 

( ii.Ai'.Rin. — j'^ather I Ti'leniaehus I I lere — l'"ather ! 

I 'Kri)i:\ TIL'S. — Sh ! sh ! Leave him atone! lie is in 
prayer ! 

Tiaj^.MACiius. — The Coliseum! Why I 1 see the sands 
of that arena turn ai^ain to searlet with the streams of 
Christian blood that the\- have drunk! 

(iLAiiRio. — He's ])lanniniL;- something! ddie tii^iit's not 
o\-er \et. Titus ( if hisprrs aiiiiiuitcdly. . I pf^liiiisc from 
arena. ) 

TKLKAfACHUS. — Ten thousand and ten thousand radi- 
ant forms of valiant ("hidstian mart\rs rise before nie ! 
Alv ears are tilled with the triumphant h^nins of praise 
they sant^- while dyiui^' for ( iod's holy law! 

Titus. — You're craz}-, man. or drunk! What ean he 
do? ( .-Ipplaiisr from arena.) 

Tklkmachus. — Yet, infanu- of infamies! These Chris- 
tians, their descendants, applaud its violation ! 

(ii.ABKio. — You just watch! 

TKt.EM.vcHL'S. — The\- wish to see a brave man die! 
( )li. Cord (;od. am 1 the man? Will my death answer? 
.Vm 1 brave? Will my blood satisfy them? Ah! Xow is 
the manner clear ! T see — I see the crown ! The grace, 
l.ord Cod. e:ive me the grace! 



{.Ipplaiisc stops siicldriily.) 

Wdiat — what are they doing- now ?" Wdiat are they 
doing now .■" 

Marcus. — They salute the Emperor ! 

Gladiators {back). — .Morifiiri. fc saliitamiis! 

T^:LE^rACHUS. — Thou alone, F.ord Cod, .My leather, art 
m\ I'jnjieror! And like them dying-. 1 salute thee^ 
M oritiinis. fc saltifo! 



50 

Prudentius. — What does he mean? (Applause.) 

Glabrio — Hei ! Stop him ! Stop him ! I knew it ! Uh, 
Lord ! The mob will kill him ! 

Titus. — Oh, Marcus, Marcus ! Bar the gates ! Bar 
the gates ! Too late ! Oh, God ; the mob ! 

Marcus. — The man is mad ! 

Prudentius. — Father, hold — hold! M}' God! Another 
Martyr ! Oh, shame — shame ! 

( Tclcmachits rushes throu^^Ji the i:;ates, thnnciiij^ tlieu! 
icide open. The i:;hidifi)rs, fis^htiu^t:; in a ro'a', are dis- 
closed. He dashes in beheeeii ihem. They fall back. 
The people shout: "Kill him! Kill him! Stone Jiim ! 
Kill Iiim!" — /;//;'/ (? shoicer of stones, pieces of marble, 
etc., upon him, and then jump into the arena to trample 
him to death.) 

( Telemaehus is caught by Tigellinus as he sinks upon 
the sand. Titus, Glabrio and Prudentius rush out to 
them and endeavor to keep back the mob, -cchile Tigel- 
linus staggers doTcn the stage icitJi Telemaehus. AV force 
their way through the gate lighting to reach Teleniaclius.) 

Prudentius. — Back ! Back ! Back ! In the name of 
mercy, back ! 

Titus. — PIo, there ! Guards ! Guards I 

Glabrio. — Ijack ! Hold ! Furies ! Devils ! Flold ! 

(Enter guard through door Right, and stop a part 
of the mob at gates.) 

Titus. — To the gates ! Keep out the mob, on your 
lives ! 

Prudentius. — Give over, men ! By all that's Holy, 
back. (Call of trumpet heard at back.) 



51 

SoLDiKks {from Lcfl of arena). — I'lic I-jupcror ! Tlic 
[{niperor! Make way there! Make \va\ for your lives! 

(Mob on .T/(/,-r /<///.s- /)(/(7v' to left and ri<^lit. 'rio;cllinus 
places Tclcmaehus on staj^e. The liniperor's soldiers 
force a passaj^e at i:;afe. 'Jltiis reeeires and suf^ports the 
head of Teleniaehiis. ) 

Titus. — Some wine! ( juick ! He \et l)reathes! 

( (ilabrio /7.i,'7/^s- throiti^h mob at Left for wine. ) 

rKLi)i-:NTius. — ( )li, now, you l)ase. despicable cowards, 
now you stand aside through slavish fear! \\' hat ! Are 
}()u the Christian men of Rome? T blush to look around 
and call \'(Ui so! For were you devils, hot from hell, vou 
could not more show fur^• ! 

( Enter Honorius. Stilicho and officers. Soldiers and 
part of mob seen through gate.) 

Honorius. — Ls it thus, slaves, that you repay our lav- 
ish generosity ? Before our very eyes to stone and tram- 
ple on a brave but reckless minister of that faith which 
we profess? Soldiers, surround, and 

Prudentius. — Hold ! Can you yourself. Emperor of 
Rome, look upon that prostrate form and say: "I am in- 
nocent of the blood of this just man?" Who gave these 
games? Who aroused, with scenes of blood, the fury 
of this mob? Who taught and trained these gladiators? 
Who, against God's law, urged — forced them on to 
fight? The people in their madness have, by deed if not 
by word, proclaimed : "His blood be upon us and upon 
our children !" But are you, O Emperor of Christian 
Rome, are vou a Pilate? Can vou cleanse your con- 



52 

science bv the washing of your hands? And do you all. 
Emperor and people alike, do you all wish the blood of 
this saintl\- hermit — of this heroic martyr — to remain in 
malediction forever on your heads? 

People. — (Jh, Xo ! Xo ! (fhcy innnnur) Miserere 
nobis! Miserere nobis! 

lloxoRirs. — Miserere inei Dens! I have sinned, and 
sinned most of all, since 1 have led all to sin ! 

Prudentius. — Oh, now you see the folly of your crime 
and i^rieve ! Let me still further speak. I heard this 
mornino- from his own li])s the story of his life. Em- 
peror, that man's father died fiohtin^- for your father's 
honor and for the empire you now rnle. Your father in 
return, at Thessalonica, slew in that most awful slaugh- 
ter, all that was dear to him on earth — his mother and 
his sister. Yet this same man, standing at the door of 
the Church of Milan, offered, with Archbishop Ambrose, 
his body to the blows of your father's soldiers, who, heed- 
less of sacrilege, thought to win heaven with a murder- 
er's swrjrd ! 

HoNORius. — Is that the man?" (Kneels dozvn.) Is that 
the man? And is he dead? ( )h, (lod, say not that he 
is dead ! 

Titus. — No, Emperor. He still breathes, but that is 
all! 

HoNORius. — And that's the man ! .\nd after all that 
he has suffered from and for my father, dies he now. 
Alas! dies he now, that I, the son, may realize, as now 
indeed I do. the great commandment of the Lord: "Thou 
shalt not kill !" Oh, live, brave man of God. Oh, live and 
be my guide ! Speak, at least, and tell me you forgive 
me and mv thoughtless, cruel ])eople ! Tell me yon for- 
give us ! 

Titus. — He moves ! 

Prudentius. — Sh ! sh ! 



00 

'ri-:ij;.\i.\ciirs. — "'( )ur l'"allu'!-. Wlm ail in 1 leav- 
en 

( 1 1 oiioriiis and all tlic j-'caf^lc ;^(i (hi-a'ii mi their knees.) 

— Iiallii\\eil he llix name. Tin kin.i^doni c<»nie. Tti\ 
will he (lone on earth as it is done in heaven, (live us 
tliis (la\ our daily hread 

HoNoKiL's AND People. — "And forgive us our tres- 
])asses 

Tia-i-'-MACii ns — "As we forgive those (Dies.) 

riu'i)i-:.\'iius. — Thy ])rayer, () J^jnperer, was heard. 

IIoNOKius. — IJevond ni\ deserts! It now remains for 
me to act. I. 1 lonorius, hy the Grace of God, Emperor of 
tlie W est. do here and now order an edict to be prepared 
hanishing and forbidding forever gladiatorial contests 
in our em]Mre. [''or this heroic martyr let a triumph be 
prepared. Soldiers, in all reverence place his body on 
_\()ur shields. ( They do so.) Return, people, to the am- 
jjhitheater. Herald, go proclaim our will : As this saint 
is borne al(Mig, let all in deepest Christian scM-row beg the 
God we ha\'e offended to forgive and pardon us through 
the merits of this martyred hermit — this victor of the last 
gladiatorial tight in Rome. Cio ! 

( The peof'le pass out from left and ri<^hf info the 
arena. I'he soldiers hearini^; Teleniaelnis on their shoulders 
siart, the Tniperor to follo-c<.' last.) 

CURTAIN. 



f.0T H M^ 



One copy del to Cat. Div. 



^1' "t'^ 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

015 909 193 4 




ES9 OF BYRON 5. AOAMS, 



